Oral spray

An oral spray is a liquid cannabinoid product delivered by a metered pump into the mouth, usually under the tongue or against the cheek, giving a fixed amount per actuation.

The formulation is typically a cannabinoid extract dissolved in a carrier such as medium-chain triglyceride oil or an ethanol and propylene glycol mixture, often with flavoring. The pump delivers a set volume, so the label states the milligrams per spray and the number of sprays per bottle rather than per dropper. Sprays are held in the mouth to allow absorption through the oral mucosa, though a large share is swallowed and absorbed through the gut.

The format is familiar from the prescription cannabinoid spray approved in several countries outside the United States for multiple sclerosis spasticity, which established the pharmacokinetics of oromucosal delivery. Consumer hemp sprays borrow the format for convenience and discretion. The metered pump gives more consistent portions than a dropper, but the amount that actually enters the bloodstream still varies with contact time and formulation. Sprays should be distinguished from topical sprays intended for skin and from nasal sprays, which are a different route.